DR Congo presidential elections could be postponed to 2017 or 2020

Presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo might not take place in 2016 as planned.

Government spokesperson Lambert Mende was evasive and ambiguous when he told Radio France Internationale (RFI) on Friday that the country’s presidential elections could take place either in 2016 or 2017.

Mende justified the postponement by evoking the general census, which is expected to be held next year under the proposed new electoral law due to be enacted soon by Parliament.

But opposition parties and critics fear that the controversial new electoral proposed by the government may push the presidential elections to 2020.

DRC MPs (members of parliament) have been promised US$100 000 each if they voted for the controversial new electoral law.

Photo: Afrikarabia

About Issa Sikiti da Silva

Issa Sikiti da Silva is an award-winning African journalist, a humanitarian and founder of Sifa News (ex-Moon of the South), He has travelled extensively across Africa and his work has been published in more than 40 media outlets based in South Africa, Zimbabwe, DRC, Namibia, Europe and Qatar. He won the SADC Media 2010 Awards in print category.
Follow him on Twitter at @sikitimedia or email him at dasilvasikiti@gmail.com..